February 20 - Winter Pruning Tour in Wayne County

A winter pruning tour will be conducted at 3 farms in Wayne County from 8:30am until 3:30pm on Thursday February 20, 2014. You and your employees are invited to attend this pruning demonstration and tour to continue learning about the benefits of orchard mechanization and proper pruning for high density plantings. This tour is free, does not require a pre-registration, and is open to all Western NY fruit growers interested to improve orchard labor efficiency.

Pruning Demonstrations and Tour Agenda:

Stop 1 - 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Mark Hermenet's Orchards (address: 7017 Bear, Swamp Rd, Williamson, NY. Directions: Travel to intersection of Rt. 104 and Pound Rd in Wayne County, Williamson, NY. Follow north on Pound Rd, and travel 0.2 miles, then turn right on Bear Swamp Rd., go for 1.2 miles and look to your left for the Cornell signs).  Mark has been planting new high density plantings and just recently invested in a new tractor-mounted, over-the-hood, expanding deck, two man orchard platform. See and hear how it has worked after only two weeks of pruning work in 2014. Discussion on orchard mechanization, proper pruning, limb renewal pruning, limb bending, and the correct identification of a floral bud versus a vegetative bud will be led by Dr. Terence Robinson. Mark Arcuri will demonstrate the correct use of fall protection harnesses. Andy Dulude and Ryan Amburg will demonstrate the use of electric shears for pruning of high density orchards. 

Stop 2 - 11:00 AM - Noon: D&L Ventures LLC, Doug Fox's Orchards (address: 4959 Fish Farm Rd., Sodus, NY. Directions: Travel to intersection of Rt. 88 and Feiock Rd/Fish Farm Rd in Wayne County. Follow east on Feiock Rd, and travel 0.1 mile, then turn right on Fish Farm Rd., go for 1.5 miles and look to your right for the Cornell signs). Doug will share his successes and challenges while pruning medium-high density orchards on steep slopes with a motorized platform. Last year Doug bought a tractor-mounted, out-front, elevating-tilting, two man orchard platform that has worked very well for his pruning crew. See and hear how it has worked! Discussion on general aspects of pruning will be led by Dr. Terence Robinson.

Lunch (on your own)

Stop 3 - 1:00-3:30 PM: Scott VanDeWalle's Orchards (directions: Travel to intersection of Rt. 104 and Rt. 14 in Wayne o., Alton, NY. Turn north on Rt. 14, and travel 0.3 miles, then turn right on Ridge Rd. and go 50 feet, then turn left on Shaker Rd., go 0.9 miles and look for the Cornell signs). Scott and invited growers Todd Furber and Eric Budinger will be sharing their experiences with motorized platforms for pruning. Todd and Eric will have for display their platform pulled by a tractor and Scott will have his 2012 tractor-mounted, over-the-hood, two man orchard platform (it does not have an expanding deck as Mark Hermenet's 2014 platform) and the 2013 tractor-mounted , over-the-row, four man orchard platform and self-guided. Discussion on orchard mechanization, the fruiting wall concept, proper pruning, limb renewal pruning, limb bending, and the correct identification of a floral bud versus a vegetative bud will be led by Dr. Terence Robinson.  A second demonstration of use of fall protection harnesses and electric shears will also be demonstrated at this stop.

For more details about the tour call or email Mario to 315-719-1318 - mrm67@cornell.edu